Quote of the Week
“The solutions to a community’s problems are usually going to be found within the community. That’s our philosophical starting point.”
— Project Manager Ivan Paz, on the mission of Every Neighborhood Project’s Community Land Use Academy
This Week in Fresnoland
Will beefed up fines solve the Tower District problem?
Rowdy weekend crowds are forcing Fresno police to back up Tower District officers so consistently that other neighborhoods are left under-patroled, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reported this week.
But a recent push to curb the fights and litter by banning street food vendors faced tremendous criticism, causing the city council to rethink its strategy for cleaning up the relentless weekend Tower District nuisance.
Vendors who spoke with Pablo on a recent Saturday night didn’t dispute the idea that something needs to change — fights are bad for business. And, even those who initially signaled support for the ban acknowledge that vendors are not causing the problems — it’s the crowds.
The issue is scheduled to return for another vote this week at Fresno City Hall with a new proposal that allows street vending to continue, but would significantly beef up the fines authorities can issue.
Neighbors solving neighborhood problems
Fresno residents looking to fight for neighborhood improvements can learn how to combat city hall bureaucracy at the Community Land Use Academy, reports Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano.
The Academy’s multiweek courses are operated by the Every Neighborhood Partnership — with online and Spanish-language options — teach residents how to pressure city leaders to install bike lanes and speed humps on your street or address neighborhood eye sores.
Inez Zuniga helped lead the charge for safety improvements in her west-central neighborhood after a child was tragically killed in traffic at a busy intersection.
No matter the issue, the academy’s instructors say the best and most effective solutions come from within the neighborhood itself.
Project Manager Ivan Paz: “The solutions to a community’s problems are usually going to be found within the community. That’s our philosophical starting point.”
Health care costs could spike for thousands in Fresno
As the longest-ever federal government shutdown finally approached its end this week with enough Democrats capitulating on the party’s pledge to renew health care subsidies, Fresno-area leaders said they’re already scrambling to address the looming crisis.
Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano sat down with assemblymembers Mia Bonta and Esmeralda Soria as California state and local leaders scramble to fill in the gaps in the wake of numerous funding shortfalls affecting everything from food stamps to air traffic control.
Fresno is one of seven California counties where most of its residents (52%) are enrolled in Medi-Cal,.
Assemblymember Mia Bonta: “Between 200,000 to 400,000 residents across the Central Valley will lose Medi-Cal coverage by 2034 due to the mandatory work rules, the more frequent eligibility checks and the new cost-sharing provisions that are built-in.”
Church to build affordable housing Fresno
Fresno County’s first project to build affordable housing on church property, led by Westside Church of God and Southwest Fresno Development Corporation, plans to put 21 senior cottages on an acre of land next to the Edison neighborhood church, Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina reported this week.
The project is Fresno’s entry into the national Yes in God’s Backyard movement, which helps churches to build affordable homes amid the nation’s housing crisis.
Church groups want to acquire and renovate roughly four homes per year, revitalizing the area while contributing to the city’s larger plan to add 1,000 homes in the area.
Bishop Paul Binion: “I just had a vision — why couldn’t southwest Fresno have what every other part of Fresno has? Why not stores and shops here? Why not new homes? Why not development?”
Fresno’s returning taco champions
Two heavyweights got their fourth titles at Taco Truck Throwdown last weekend, as Taco Pinto — a northwest Fresno staple — came away with the judge’s choice winner and Tacos La Vaporera — a Cherry Auction-area weekly hotspot — won the people’s choice title.
Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina and Omar S, Rashad covered the annual competition, which brought more than 10,000 people to Chukchansi Park on Saturday night.
More than 20 taco trucks were scattered across the baseball field, along with lucha libre wrestling and live music from local singers and big headliners.
Rappers E-40 and Baby Bash got Chukchansi Park jumping with some of their biggest hits. Local artists also put on a show, including FYR, DJ Smiley, Sum Slight and Mia Mei.
Outside the Lines
Fresno Unified’s Office of African American Academic Acceleration is changing its name to the Office of Advancing Academic Acceleration & Achievement. Fresnoland
A Fresno crowd opposed plans for another PG&E rate hike during a recent hearing, criticizing a proposal that the utility company claims is necessary. Fresnoland
A Fresno lobbyist was among a group of state Capitol insiders named in the same public corruption indictment handed down this week against Gavin Newsom’s former top staffer and others. The charges against lobbyist Greg Campbell are not tied to his Fresno City Hall work. A councilmember told Fresnoland that Campbell’s contract, which expires next summer, could be terminated early. CalMatters
California’s High Speed Rail Authority delays construction on the Merced stop, switching focus to Madera-to-Gilroy route. The Fresno Bee
A “suspicious package” — which turned out to be a harmless suitcase — forced the evacuation of at least one Fresno office building at Inyo and L Streets on Friday, Fresno police Lt. Larry Bowlan confirmed.The evacuated building houses ICE offices and the Fresno Creditors Bureau. — Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina
Danielle Parra, a sitting State Center Community College District trustee, announced a bid for Fresno’s District 5 city council seat. Business Journal
Fresno taxpayers are footing the civil court bills in multiple lawsuits tied to an ex-city cop who has pleaded not guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from police evidence lockers. The Fresno Bee
Carole Goldsmith, Chancellor of the State Center Community College District, announced her retirement at a news conference this week. ABC30
Block Beat
TOWER DISTRICT: A neighborhood barbecue pitmaster wants your help providing 1,000 free Thanksgiving meals for Fresno-area families in need. ABC30
DOWNTOWN: The Fresno Comic Expo will be hosted at the Fresno Convention Center at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. More info
RIVER PARK: Food trucks, restaurant pop-ups, artisan shops and vendors will be at Foodielicious at the River Park mall on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info
TOWER DISTRICT: Sour Milk and Root Access Hackerspace are co-hosting a Koolastic Book Fair on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Instagram
FANCHER CREEK: Fresno’s sixth In-and-Out Burger restaurant opened this week. ABC30
DOWNTOWN: Ice skating is (almost) back: Snag your tickets, because the Mariposa Winter Village is coming to Mariposa Plaza starting Dec. 5. Confia
